GTA V Launch Forecast for Early 2013, Wii U Considered

Analysts have reported that Rockstar's next major Grand Theft Auto title, the fifth of the series, will not launch this year as expected but is likely to launch in early 2013. Gamers were first introduced to Grand Theft Auto V last year with the release of a 90 second trailer.

This led many to speculate that the forthcoming title would ship in 2012 but analyst Arvind Bhatia of Sterne Agee says the title is more likely to be released in Take-Two's fourth fiscal quarter. The title would miss the key holiday sales season, but this is typical of the GTA games which do not usually launch in the holiday period.

Bhatia comments on the advantages of releasing in this period for Take-Two, which includes a less crowded window away from big holiday releases and stronger catalogue sales. He also states that there will be a larger installed base including the potential for a Wii U launch, as well as more time for the publisher to polish the game before release.